June 18, 2025
The State DOT wants to do some work on Route 36 between Hornell and Arkport, and the DOT wants more lights on the side of the road on 36. Hornell Mayor John Buckley says, Hornell has told the DOT that Hornell will pay for 63 new lights. The Hornell mayor also says, North Hornell has been asked to pay for taking care of 56 new lights on the side of Route 36. Buckley also says, North Hornell is only agreeing to pay for nine lights, but no more than that. He says the DOT wants Hornell to pay for the remaining lights. Hornell’s Common Council sent a letter to the North Hornell Village Board. It says quote, “We respectfully ask that the Village of North Hornell Board reconsider its decision regarding the lighting.” We’ve reached out to North Hornell Village Mayor Joe Ingalls. We have not heard back from the North Hornell mayor as of yet.
See the Hornell Common Council’s letter below.
Dear Honorable Members of the Village of North Hornell Board,
We, the members of the Hornell Common Council, respectfully write to you regarding the ongoing New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) rehabilitation project along Route 36, a transformative $60 million investment that spans the City of Hornell, the Village of North Hornell, and the Town of Hornellsville.
This project presents an extraordinary opportunity to significantly enhance regional connectivity, public safety, recreational access, and economic development through its integrated design, which includes a bicycle and walking trail, improved traffic flow, and upgraded infrastructure. A key component of the project—critical to its success—is the inclusion of adequate street and trail lighting, which enhances public safety and encourages use by pedestrians, runners, and bicyclists.
While the City of Hornell has formally agreed to energize and maintain lighting within its portion of the project, we are concerned by the Village Board’s current position to take responsibility only for lighting along the bridge and at the two plaza intersections. This decision has led the DOT to remove numerous essential streetlights from the project scope that would have provided lighting between the bridge and intersections—lights that would have served both residents and visitors across all three communities.
As part of its commitment to regional benefit, the City of Hornell has already assumed significant additional responsibilities, including maintenance of the new trail such as snow removal and garbage collection. We have also been asked by DOT to accept responsibility for 10 additional lights that otherwise would not be needed had the Village not refused to energize a collection of street lights originally included in the project. While we remain committed to ensuring the project’s success, we believe it is essential that each municipality involved share equitably in both the benefits and responsibilities.
We respectfully ask that the Village of North Hornell Board reconsider its decision regarding the lighting. A fully illuminated trail and roadway are vital to promoting safety, encouraging commerce, supporting tourism, and improving quality of life for residents throughout our interconnected region. Leaving a large segment of the trail and roadway unlit poses potential risks to users and undermines the broader vision of this once-in-a-generation investment.
We urge you to re-engage with DOT and explore ways the Village might support the energization and maintenance of the lighting as originally planned. By doing so, the Village can play a full and fair role in advancing a project that is truly for the greater good of all our communities.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and work collaboratively toward a successful outcome.
Sincerely,
Hornell Common Council
City of Hornell
